| Complaint: | Complaint 19-89 |
|---|---|
| Respondent: | Erika Angone |
| Premises: | Kingman Animal Hospital |
The complainant brought his cats to Angone for a routine checkup. One cat had been coughing up white foamy liquid, but he was allegedly told that was no more concerning than a hairball. Angone allegedly gave this cat a clean bill of health aside from being overweight. The other cat required further specialized tests and was eventually prescribed a baby aspirin. Several months later, the first cat's back legs gave out and the cat was rushed to the same clinic the next day. Cornelius examined the cat and performed an x-ray, concluding that the cat had a large mass in the heart and lung area likely caused by a fall. The complainant said that he was concerned that the cats were confused during the previous exam as the one was displaying the symptoms they were told the other cat may develop. He says Cornelius was also upset to learn that the other cat was getting a baby aspirin as it was potentially toxic in healthy cats. He states that she left the room to speak with Angone and came back looking flustered and telling him it didn't matter. During the same visit he received a quote for someone else's dog rather than his cat. The cat was necropsied after death and a non-fall-related pulmonary mass was identified; the veterinarian that did the necropsy also said the cat should have been referred to a specialist when coughing up white foam. The complainant disputed the bill and the hospital administrator apparently confused one of the complainant's new cats with one of the cats in the complaint.
We also have a letter from the hospital's lawyer, D'Arcy Downs-Vollbracht, asking the complainant for the necropsy report, all medical records for both cats, and the names of contact information of all witnesses. She also asks for a copy of the complaint filed with the veterinary board along with all supporting evidence. She goes on to state that her position was that the cats were treated appropriately, and if the complainant elects to take the veterinarians to court, she says she reserves the right to countersue for harassment, failure to pay the bill, and making false statements. (When D'Arcy isn't threatening people on behalf of veterinarians, she's apparently a very big dog fancier and breeder of Border Terriers and fine horses. Seriously, you can find her on InfoDog.)
Angone's response states that the complainant declined many recommended tests on the cat in question. She states that the appropriate care was given to both cats at all times. She also notes that she could not have predicted that the cat would get sick and drop dead several months later.
The Investigative Committee said they didn't find any mix-up. The complainant and his fiancee must have gotten the cats confused themselves.
The findings of fact sneak an interesting finding in, as they sometimes do. The complainant specifically says that the cats were mixed up regarding the aspirin dose. The findings of fact specifically state that the complainant was giving baby aspirin to the one cat and then decided on his own to give baby aspirin to the other cat. Since the complainant didn't appear before the committee, we can only assume they concluded this on the basis of Cornelius' testimony and whatever someone punched into the medical records at the clinic.
| Source: | September 9, 2019 PM Investigative Committee Meeting |
|---|---|
| People: | |
| Erika Angone | Respondent |
| Roll Call: | |
| Adam Almaraz | Aye |
| Amrit Rai | Aye |
| Brian Sidaway | Aye |
| Christine Butkiewicz | Aye |
| William Hamilton | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
| Source: | October 10, 2019 Board Meeting |
|---|---|
| Proposed By: | Darren Wright |
| Seconded By: | Jessica Creager |
| Roll Call: | |
| Christina Bertch-Mumaw | Absent |
| Darren Wright | Aye |
| J Greg Byrne | Absent |
| Jane Soloman | Aye |
| Jessica Creager | Aye |
| Jim Loughead | Aye |
| Nikki Frost | Aye |
| Robyn Jaynes | Aye |
| Sarah Heinrich | Aye |
| Result: | Passed |
The primary source for the above summary was obtained as a public record from the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board. You are welcome to review the original records and board meeting minutes by clicking the relevant links. While we endeavor to provide an accurate summary of the complaint, response, investigative reports and board actions, we encourage you to review the primary sources and come to your own conclusions. In some cases we have also been able to reach out to individuals with knowledge of specific complaints, and where possible that information will be included here.